What’s The Deal With Truffles? Find Out At This Tasty Festival!

By Clare Acheson - 03 Jul 2015

Everyone who knows anything about the finer things in life knows that truffles are one of the most luxurious foods out there. Whether you’re shaving them into sauces, steeping them in oil, or cooking them into canapés, truffles are THE BEST when it comes to giving a dish a touch of flavoursome class. But how do you make the most of them? How do you grow them, or train your dog to find them? What even ARE truffles anyway?!

Listers, say hello to Truffle Melbourne—the only truffle festival in Melbourne to give you all the inside knowledge, delicious tasters and expert advice when it comes to these delicious delicacies. Taking place on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July, the foodie festival includes cooking workshops with world-famous chef Guy Grossi and local heroes Alex Drobysz from Chiara, Nicky Reimer from Union Dining, Dylan Roberts from Charlie Dumpling, Sam Gant (yup, from Masterchef!) and Wayne Brown from Sake. You can also pick up truffle tips from French truffle maestro Philippe Mouchel, enjoy a champagne and truffle bar (ie. utter heaven), and even take part in a truffle hunt where you can get up close and personal with some of Australia’s top truffle hunting dogs!

Boasting over $250,000 worth of truffles that will be served throughout the festival’s three floors of truffle madness, as well as over 30 producers selling different kinds of truffle goods, Truffle Melbourne is set to be one of the best foodie events of this season. Truffle Food & Wine Co, Madame Truffles, Pepe Saya, and even Cornelius Cheese—TRUFFLE TRIPLE BRIE, PEOPLE—will be serving up some trufflicious tasters as well as selling take-home truffle goods, and we hear that the lovely folk at Moondog Brewery have created a limited edition truffle cream ale, Truffle-upagus.

Truffle Melbourne is the perfect event if you’re looking to pick up some cooking skills that’ll really impress and begin to develop your own indulgent dishes (hint: there’s more to fine cooking than adding a splash of truffle oil to everything…). The literary geniuses who run Melbourne’s best cookery bookshop, Books For Cooks, will be on hand with local top chefs and writers for signings and to advise on the cook books you should be stacking your selves with. Keen to start your very own truffle empire? There will also be a grow-your-own truffles workshop on the Sunday for all of those of you with greenfingers, gourmet tastes, and a bit of patience.

Worried you’ll be out of pocket trying all of these tasty treats, or feeling like you don’t have the lingo to impress the truffle-quaffing crowd? Fear not, Listers. Truffle Melbourne is billed to suit everyone from novices to fungi enthusiasts. Not only will you be able to chat to local truffle growers, chefs and truffle hunters (yes, complete with their cute truffle hunting dogs), the samplers are super-affordable and there will be everything from tiny truffle mouthfuls to a full three-course VIP feast that comes with matched wines…the epitome of food and drink luxury, Listers!

Too busy to hit up the full Truffle Melbourne festival? Get yourself to Guy Grossi’s restaurant, Grossi Florentino on Wednesday 8th July for an incredible truffle dinner party where you can dine on these delicacies in style. You’d better be quick—we hear there are only a few spots left—so give the Grossi team a call on 03 9662 1811 to book your spot.

Tickets for Truffle Melbourne are on sale now at bargain early-bird prices, so grab your credit card and book your place before midnight on Sunday 5th, when they jump back up to full-price. Go!

Editor's Note: This article is proudly sponsored by Truffle Melbourne and endorsed by The Urban List. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who make The Urban List possible. Click here for more information on our editorial policy.

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By Clare Acheson

Clare is The Urban List’s in-house expert on all things whisky, cheese and bicycles. She’s most likely to be found discovering backstreet galleries and cocktail bars in the city’s inner north, and loves nothing more than making people laugh (or cry?) on the internet.